Suicide and Bureau County
By Donna Barker
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dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Forty-four people have died from suicide in Bureau County during the last 10 years.
Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff said the number of suicides in Bureau County has been pretty consistent through the years, usually averaging three or four annually. However, there were six suicides in 2001 and six in 2006. So far this year, there have been three suicides in the county.
Wamhoff, who has been the county coroner for 22 years, said there is no one type of person, age, or economic class who is more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
Of Bureau County’s 44 suicides, nine have been female, 35 have been male. As far as ages, the Bureau County suicides have ranged from 16 years of age to 91 years.
According to Wamhoff's records, five of the local suicides have been teenagers, with another four people in their 20s. Six suicides have been of people in their 70s; four were in their 80s; and one in his 90s.
Wamhoff said there is the old adage about not talking about suicide and maybe it won’t happen. But that’s not the case, she said.
People need to be aware of the potential warning signs before a family member or friend acts upon them, Wamhoff said.
According to information provided by consultant Cheryl Robinson of Sterling and the Suicide Talk program, warning signs may include, in part, threats or jokes about suicide, major changes in behavior, and severe depression caused by a life change. For some people, especially the elderly, suicide threats can be health-related concerns, Wamhoff said.
The purpose behind suicide awareness is to help people handle life-changing and depressing events or situations, Wamhoff said. Though depression is the underlying cause of suicide attempts, not every depressed person will commit suicide, she said.
On Thursday, the public is invited to attend a Living Works free suicide prevention program, presented by Cheryl Robinson. The program is scheduled for 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 30 N. Sixth St. in Princeton.
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